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A METHOD OF PREPARING FISHES FOR MUSEUM AND 
EXHIBITION PURPOSES 

By Dwight Franklin 
Anit'iuini Muuioii nj Xaturnl lll^loiy, AV:, '^'ork City 

Models presented before the Fourth International Fishery Congress 
held at Washington, U. S. A., September 11 to 26, 1908 
and awarded the prize of one hundred dollars in- gold offered 
by the American Museum of Natural History for the best 
method of preparing fishes for museum and exhibition purposes 



BULLETIN OF THF. BUREAU OF FISHERIES : : : : : VOL XXVIII. P. 1 353-1355 
Document No. 723 :::::::::::::::::::: : Issued May. 1910 



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Bui,. U. vS. B. F., lyoS. 



Platk CXLII. 






kci.ru.luclioiis from pliulu^raphs of n., d. : .: i.:..,'^ ;,.,„, , ..ilKli. an.l liimpfish Modtfls 
prepared by Jiwifjlit l-nuiklin. 



A METHOD OF PREPARING FISHES FOR MUSEUM AND 
EXHIBITION PURPOSES. 



Hy DWICIIT I"KA\KI.I\, 
Amrriiiin Miisrum .>/ Xn/ith:/ l/i'/niy, XiW '^'oik Cily. 



The preparation of fish for museum and cxhiljition purposes lias always 
presented considerable diniculty. In most museums three methods of repre- 
sentation are in vogue, namely, by alcoholics, mounted skins, and plaster casts. 
The following are some of the commonly accepted objections to these methods: 
(i) Specimens preserved in any known liquid lose their color and give little 
idea of the li\ing fish, (j) Few fish can be successfully mounted, as the soft 
parts about the head and fins shrivel and the skin becomes dry and opaque, so 
that no amount of skillful coloring can restore the original transluccncy. If 
the specimen is coated with wax the detail is lost, while the softness is only on 
the surface of the fish, not a part of it. (3) Plaster casts may reproduce the 
form perfectly, but all transluccncy is lost. If in the last method, however, a 
medium could be used which is itself soft and semitransparent, the result would 
prove more satisfactory. It has been found that wax answers this purpose 
admirably. It is easily handled, retains its form, and may be successfully 
colored. 

The method used in making the specimens shown in the accompanying 
illustrations is as follows: 

First remove the slime from the fish and pose the animal as desired. If 
a cast of one side only is desired the specimen may be backed up with clay. 

Now pour plaster over the fish and allow it to harden thoroughly, after 
which the fish may be removed from the mold and laid aside. 

As a third step soak the mold in hot water until it is saturated, then absorb 
the excess w-ater from the surface. 

Finally pour melted beeswax of the desired color into and out of the mold 
until a thick coating of wax is formed, then allow it to cool. Before the wax has 
hardened wire hangers may be inserted. 

When the cast is cold carefully chip off the i:)laster mold, point up the wax 
cast, if necessary, and there has been produced a lifelike reproduction of the 
fish, which needs only to be finished by being colored accurately. 

Models prepared by this method are shown in plate cxuii. 

'355 



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